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This article outlines the need to update schema in an environment before installing Exchange.

Ensure to have a system state backup done prior to the schema update. Here we have described how to do the schema update in a secure mode where you can ensure the schema master domain controller is working in a proper state then you can open the replication. This is also recommended to prepare you in the Pre-Production environment before implementing this.

• Give the “Schema Admins” group membership to the user from Active Directory Users and computers which will be used to do this task.
  
• Log on to the where you want to do the schema update
  
• Determine and transfer Schema Master role.
  

  *Ensure you launch CMD as administrator before continuing
  

  • Check the schema master server
    
    • From a DOS prompt execute the following command:
      

C:>netdom query fsmo

 Record the Schema master Server. The role will need to be transferred back when the schema has been successfully extended.

• Transfer the schema FSMO role to the domain controller you have logged in.
  
  • Use ntdsutil. From a DOS prompt execute the following commands:
    
    • C:>ntdsutil roles connections
      
    • Type connect to server “fqdn of the server”
      
    • Then type ‘q’
      
    • Transfer schema master
      
    • Quit from the ntdsutil
      

      OR
      

  • Open schema mmc and transfer operations master role to the local server
    

• Copy the SP3 or the software dump for schema update.
  
  • Create c:tempexchange on the server.
    
  • Copy the dump or extract to this folder.
    
• Install the prerequisite on the domain controller to run schema update for exchange 2007
  
  • Install windows powershell by running ServerManagercmd –i powershell
    
  • Install windows installer 4.5
    
  • Restart the server
    
  • Install Ldifde.exe by running ‘ServerManagerCmd –i RSAT-Adds’
    
  • Restart the server
    
• Check the replication of the and stop replication.
  
  • Go to cmd and run the command “repadmin /replsum” and check for error. If no error then move ahead for next step. If there is any error related to the schema master then wait for the replication to complete or manually replicate from Active directory site and services.
    
  • Open the cmd with run as administrator and run the following cmd to stop outbound and inbound replication to the
    
    • repadmin /options serverhostname +DISABLE_OUTBOUND_REPL
      
    • repadmin /options serverhostname +DISABLE_INBOUND_REPL
      
• Verify replication is turned off, EVENT log should have 1115 and 1113 events .
  
• Do the schema update with the following steps
  
  • Open cmd with Run as admin and go to CD to c:tempexchange
    
  • Run Setup /PrepareSchema
    
• Post schema update checks
  
  • Run diag and check for errors. Replication error will come as replication is disabled.
    
  • Open Active Directory Schema mmc and check it is working properly.
    
  • Open Active Directory users and computers then check working.
    
• Open the replication traffic
  
  • Open the cmd prompt and run the following cmds
    
    • repadmin /options serverhostname -DISABLE_INBOUND_REPL
      
    • repadmin /options serverhostname -DISABLE_OUTBOUND_REPL
      
• Go to cmd and run the command “repadmin /replsum” and check for error. Try doing manual replication from Active Directory Site and services.
  
• We are done if the replication is working fine.
  

Prabhat Nigam

Team @MSExchangeGuru

Keywords: Update Schema in Exchange, update schema before installing exchange

Posted August 26th, 2011 under Exchange 2007, Exchange 2010. RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback.